English Dictionary

Definition of “finish”

Browse the English dictionary (A-Z)

finish (ˈfɪnɪʃPronunciation for finish) 

Definitions

verb (mainly tr)

  1. to bring to an end; complete, conclude, or stop
  2. (intr)  sometimes foll by up to be at or come to the end; use up
  3. to bring to a desired or complete condition
  4. to put a particular surface texture on (wood, cloth, etc)
  5. (often foll by off) to destroy or defeat completely
  6. to train (a person) in social graces and talents
  7. (intr)  foll by with 
    1. to end a relationship or association
    2. to stop punishing a person  ⇒ I haven't finished with you yet! 

noun

  1. the final or last stage or part; end
    1. the death, destruction, or absolute defeat of a person or one side in a conflict  ⇒ a fight to the finish 
    2. the person, event, or thing that brings this about
    1. the surface texture or appearance of wood, cloth, etc  ⇒ a rough finish 
    2. a preparation, such as varnish, used to produce such a texture
  4. a thing, event, etc, that completes
  5. completeness and high quality of workmanship
  6. refinement in social graces
  7. sport ability to sprint at the end of a race  ⇒ he has a good finish 

Word Origin

C14: from Old French finir , from Latin fīnīre see fineC14: from Old French , from Latin see 1

Synonyms

View thesaurus entry
= stop, close, complete, achieve, conclude, cease, accomplish, execute, discharge, culminate, wrap up, terminate, round off, bring to a close or conclusion
= get done complete, put the finishing touch(es) to finalize, do, deal with, settle, conclude, fulfil, carry through, get out of the way make short work of,
= end, stop, conclude, wind up, terminate,
= leave, complete, quit, drop out of pack in,
= consume, dispose of, devour, polish off, drink, eat, neck, drain, get through, dispatch, hoover, deplete,
= use up, use, spend, empty, exhaust, expend,
= coat, polish, stain, texture, wax, varnish, gild, veneer, lacquer, smooth off face,
= destroy, defeat, overcome, bring down, best, worst, ruin, get rid of, dispose of, rout, put an end to overpower, annihilate, put paid to, move in for the kill drive to the wall, administer or give the coup de grâce
= kill, murder, destroy, do in, take out, massacre, butcher, slaughter, dispatch, slay, eradicate, do away with, blow away, knock off, annihilate, exterminate, take (someone's) life bump off,
= perfect, polish, elaborate, refine,
= end, ending, close, closing, conclusion, run-in, winding up, wind-up, completion, finale, termination, culmination, cessation, last stage(s) denouement, finalization,
= surface, appearance, polish, shine, grain, texture, glaze, veneer, lacquer, lustre, smoothness, patina,
= defeat, end, death, ruin, curtains, bankruptcy, liquidation, annihilation, end of the road
= polish, culture, perfection, sophistication, cultivation, refinement, elaboration,

Quotations

  • "To finish a work? To finish a picture? What nonsense! To finish it means to be through with it, to kill it, to rid it of its soul, to give it its final blow ... the coup de grâce for the painter as well as for the picture" Pablo Picasso

Translations

  • British English: finish Pronunciation for finish The finish of something is the end of it or the last part of it.I intend to continue it and see the job through to the finish.ˈfɪnɪʃ NOUN I intend to continue it and see the job through to the finish.
  • Spanish: acabado Pronunciation for acabado nm
  • French: arrivée Pronunciation for arrivée nf
  • German: Ende Pronunciation for Ende nnt
  • Chinese: 完成Pronunciation for 完成 n
  • Arabic: نِهَايَةPronunciation for نِهَايَة n
  • Portuguese: términoPronunciation for término nm
  • Russian: конецPronunciation for конец nm
  • Croatian: završnicaPronunciation for završnica nf
  • Czech: konecPronunciation for konec nm
  • Danish: afslutningPronunciation for afslutning nutr
  • Dutch: afwerkingPronunciation for afwerking nf
  • Finnish: loppuPronunciation for loppu n
  • Greek: τέρμαPronunciation for τέρμα nnt
  • Italian: rifinituraPronunciation for rifinitura nf
  • Japanese: 終わりPronunciation for 終わり n
  • Korean: 끝Pronunciation for 끝 n
  • Norwegian: avslutningPronunciation for avslutning nm
  • Polish: koniecPronunciation for koniec nm
  • Brazilian Portuguese: términoPronunciation for término nm
  • European Spanish: acabado Pronunciation for acabado nm
  • Swedish: slutspurtPronunciation for slutspurt nutr
  • Thai: ตอนจบPronunciation for ตอนจบ n
  • Turkish: sonPronunciation for son n
  • Vietnamese: phần kết thúcPronunciation for phần kết thúc n
  • British English: finish Pronunciation for finish When you finish doing or dealing with something, you do or deal with the last part of it, so that there is no more for you to do or deal with.As soon as he'd finished eating, he excused himself.ˈfɪnɪʃ VERB As soon as he'd finished eating, he excused himself.
  • Spanish: acabar Pronunciation for acabar v
  • French: finir Pronunciation for finir v
  • German: beenden Pronunciation for beenden v
  • Chinese: 完成Pronunciation for 完成 vt
  • Arabic: يُكْمِلُPronunciation for يُكْمِلُ vt
  • Portuguese: terminarPronunciation for terminar vt
  • Russian: заканчиватьPronunciation for заканчивать vt
  • Croatian: završitiPronunciation for završiti v
  • Czech: skončitPronunciation for skončit vt končit
  • Danish: sluttePronunciation for slutte v
  • Dutch: voltooienPronunciation for voltooien vt
  • Finnish: lopettaaPronunciation for lopettaa v
  • Greek: τελειώνωPronunciation for τελειώνω v
  • Italian: finirePronunciation for finire v
  • Japanese: 終えるPronunciation for 終える v
  • Korean: ...을 끝내다Pronunciation for ...을 끝내다 vt
  • Norwegian: avsluttePronunciation for avslutte v
  • Polish: skończyćPronunciation for skończyć vt kończyć
  • Brazilian Portuguese: terminarPronunciation for terminar vt
  • European Spanish: acabar Pronunciation for acabar v
  • Swedish: avslutaPronunciation for avsluta vt
  • Thai: จบPronunciation for จบ vt
  • Turkish: bitmekPronunciation for bitmek vt
  • Vietnamese: kết thúcPronunciation for kết thúc v

Usage examples

  • First, however, he had to finish making his stroll round the marina look innocent.
    Val McDermid, THE LAST TEMPTATION (2002)
  • Entry fee includes en route refreshments and a meal when you finish.
    Cycling Weekly (2004)
  • Highfield would need to win by at least eight points to usurp Queen's and so finish first.
    Irish Times (2002)
  • But there's no way they want to finish the season on a downer.
    Glasgow Herald (2001)
  • In minute detail she saw herself at the start-line, then setting off, running the race and then crossing the finish line first.
    Pete Cohen and Sten Cummins with Jennai Cox, HABIT BUSTING: A 10-step plan that will change your life (2002)

Commonness

All English words that begin with 'F'

Related Terms

4 results

Browse nearby words

Browse dictionary